If you’re looking to go on a motorcycle tour or road trip, figuring out all the things you need for camping can be a tricky process.
Using your motorcycle can be uncomfortable if you’re not efficient with what you pack on your bike. Some items can also be a real help to improve your control over warmth, food, and hygiene to stay happy in your travels.
Here are 37 motorcycle camping gear essentials you’ll want to bring along no matter where your adventures take you!
Source: cdamian
1. Sleeping Bag
A tiny sleeping bag is one of the most important motorcycle camping gear essentials for a comfortable night’s sleep. Look for a 3 season sleeping bag that works for multiple seasons depending on when you’re on the road.
2. Mountaineering Tent
If you’re a solo traveler, then a 1-person mountaineering or backpacking style tent will work great. This way, it’s lightweight and easier to haul. The smaller the better when it comes to selecting a tent for motorcycle camping.
3. Motorcycle Saddle Bag
One of the best ways to increase storage on a motorcycle is to use a saddlebag. These are rainproof and will last for long touring trips. They add a lot of storage space to carry all your camping gear.
4. MSR Alpine Stowaway Pot
This steel pot is a fantastic backpacking pot that can hold plenty of food for small stove cooking. Whether that’s over a campfire or a fuel burner stove, it also features a hinged handle to make it secure and locked in place. Not to mention, you can store all your other cooking gear inside when it’s not in use.
5. MSR WhisperLite Fuel Burner Stove
The MSR WhisperLite backpacking stove works with canister fuel, white gas, kerosene, and unleaded gasoline. This gives you a bit of versatility for longer motorcycle tours where you may want those options. A proper fuel burner stove will dramatically increase the types of meals you can prepare in the backcountry.
6. MSR Fuel Bottle
To fuel your WhisperLite, the MSR fuel bottle is a must-have. This also doubles as a bottle to carry spare gas for your motorcycle in case of an emergency.
7. Titanium/Steel Mug
To make coffee, eat food, or drink water, you’ll want a titanium mug. This will keep its contents cool or warm and can be used as a smaller cookpot in case you don’t need to use a large pot. The mug can hold a little less than 2 cups or 450 ml, while only weighing 2.7 oz (76 g).
8. Titanium Cutlery
A titanium cutlery set is another must-have for motorcycle camping gear. They’re strong, lightweight, and easy to handle. The included carrying case and carabiner also helps to keep track of them.
9. Mesh Bag for Clothes
As you wear and cycle through your clothes, you’ll want a place to put the dirty ones. It’s helpful to keep them separate to avoid stinking up your fresh and clean ones. Be sure to air them out ahead of time to avoid building up moisture or mildew.
10. Camping Lantern
At night inside your tent, it’s nice to have a lantern to keep things well lit. These camping lanterns are bright, lightweight, collapsible, easy to turn on, and low-profile. You can set them up inside your tent for plenty of light and even hang them around your campsite.
12. Paracord
A line of paracord can work great as a clothesline or washing line. You can hang your dirty clothes, wet towel, or cooking gear to keep it off the ground while it dries.
13. Microfiber Towel
Staying dry is important to keep excess water from getting tracked around inside your tent. Use a microfiber towel, as it will dry much faster than a traditional cotton towel. This helps a whole lot when showering since they can dry in under 30 minutes.
14. Water Bag
It’s much easier to use a water bag than a water bottle when traveling on a motorcycle. This hydration pack can go in your bag and store plenty of water in a flexible form factor. This is also a great option for when you’re camping since it can pack right into your bag.
15. Sunscreen
In warmer climates, or areas where you plan to stop for a swim, having some sunscreen on hand is always a good idea. You’ll want to protect your skin from hours and hours of sun exposure.
16. Motorcycle Riding Gloves
When gearing up to ride a motorcycle, a solid pair of riding gloves are important for proper motorcycle safety. These will allow for a better grip and protect your hands in the event of a crash.
17. Solar Power Bank
If going off-grid, solar power can be essential for keeping your tech-powered up. These solar portable chargers can keep everything charged up and ready to go. With this, you’ll never have to worry about a dead battery again!
18. LED Headlamp
When setting up your campsite near dawn or dusk, you’ll want an LED headlamp. This makes it a lot easier to see especially if you’re in a shaded area with limited sunlight. Not to mention, if you need to leave your campsite in the nighttime, it’s easier to use a directional headlamp than carrying around your lantern if your hands are full.
19. Swiss Army Knife
Get a swiss army knife. Enough said. This is a classic to be prepared for every day with a functional multi-tool.
20. Folding Knife
In addition to a swiss army knife, carrying around a solid folding knife will be useful without a doubt. If you plan on making fires at your campsite, then you’ll need a knife for kindling firewood.
21. Titanium Plate
With a titanium mug, depending on what meals you plan to make, you may also want a titanium plate. This makes certain meals much easier to eat and prepare.
23. Lighter
With a liquid fuel stove, you’ll need to prime and light it. Don’t forget to pack a lighter!
24. Motorcycle Helmet
In addition to motorcycle gloves, a solid motorcycle helmet will keep you safe on the road. This one includes a durable ABS shell along with multiple visors and a neck scarf for winter weather.
25. Motorcycle Jacket
Another piece of safety gear for riding your motorcycle, a jacket will keep you warm during winter and cool during the summer. It’s a solid budget all-season jacket with a breathable design.
26. Motorcycle Pants
With any good jacket, you need a solid pair of motorcycle pants. These are durable with plenty of pockets for storing additional camping gear. Waterproof and windproof also means you don’t have to worry about the weather as much on your travel.
27. Gore-Tex Boots
Motorcycle camping implies you’ll need a good pair of shoes to get you around. You need something waterproof and durable. These Salomon boots feature gore-tex material and are built for hiking. According to motorcycle safety by the NHTSA, you want boots or shoes high enough to cover your ankles.
28. USB Chargers/Adapters
To keep your cell phone and other electronics charged, you don’t want to forget USB charges and adapters. These are a must-have in your packing list.
29. Tent Stakes/Pegs
The majority of tent stakes included with tents suck. They’re typically made from cheap metal and bend easily. Unless your tent came with some nice ones, you’re much better off buying an extra set of durable tent stakes that you can depend on. Not having better pegs is one of the biggest mistakes most campers make.
30. Bag Clips
Food, rope, bags, chips, can all benefit from a bag clip to keep things secure. It’s an easy include for their multipurpose use.
31. Bathroom Case
Keeping your bathroom gear organized is a smart idea. You don’t want to be shuffling through all your bags for your toothbrush. With a dedicated bathroom case bag, you can keep your toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, combs, glasses, or contact solution all in one place.
32. Water Shoes
Depending on where you plan to go, a nice pair of water shoes can be pretty useful to keep your feet protected. Whether that’s oceans, rivers, lakes, or showering. When motorcycle touring, you’ll need to know multiple ways to find a shower.
33. Neck Gaiter
In cooler or wet weather on a motorcycle, a neck gaiter is a must-have. This pairs nicely with your helmet and jacket to keep your skin concealed at high speeds.
34. Therm-a-rest Sleeping Pad
Sleeping on the cold hard ground is no fun. Having a proper sleeping pad will make things a lot better. All you need to do is place your sleeping pad underneath your sleeping bag and you’re good to go with your backpacking mattress. However, you may also want to get a compression bag to keep it from taking up too much space.
35. Motorcycle Seat/Tail Bag
In addition to your saddlebags, a motorcycle seat bag adds to your overall storage space. Make sure to go for a touring edition to get all the extra room you need for your motorcycle camping gear.
35. Motorcycle GPS
With a motorcycle GPS, such as the TomTom, you can select specific routes with more cornering, hills, or thrills. With its weatherproof design, it’s also much easier to use on a motorcycle than a cell phone.
36. Hiking Socks
Along with your hiking boots, hiking socks will keep your feet warm in the winter and fresh in the summer while camping in the woods. These ones are ideal for the outdoors, traveling, and everyday wear.
37. Packing Straps
Packing up all your gear into saddle and seat bags can be a real challenge. With all the various gear you need to pack, it’s helpful to use some packing straps. This will keep things nice and tight in order to best maximize your use of space.
To Conclude
These motorcycle camping essentials and must-have accessories have been sourced from a variety of campers to create the ultimate compiled list. This way, you get a diversified viewpoint of what you may need for your motorcycle tour.
Hope this list helps you with your adventures and travels!